BloombergThe U.S. Supreme Court scheduled a new showdown over Obamacare and religious rights, agreeing to hear contentions by faith-based groups that they shouldn’t have to facilitate what they consider to be immoral insurance coverage for contraceptives. The case, which centers on the Obama administration’s push to make birth control a standard part of health insurance, will determine the extent to which government officials must allow exceptions for people who say their religious principles prevent them from following the law.READ MORE

By Deborah Ike We all want to reach more people with the Gospel and help them grow in their faith. Accomplishing that vision takes many forms, such as worship styles, outreach efforts, programs and more. However your church seeks to communicate the Gospel, vision and systems are certainly key factors. Vision is where it all starts. Perhaps your senior pastor wants to add another service on Sundays or start a new outreach program. That's where the second component — systems — come into play.READ MORE

The Huffington PostMoney may be the root of all kinds of evil, but economists know it is also the resource that makes many good things possible for religious groups. Cheerful and generous givers enable congregations to do everything from keeping the lights on to being the safety net of last resort for those in desperate need throughout the world. Yet even as the economy improves from the depths of the recession, several U.S. religious groups are not keeping up financially, according to two new studies.READ MORE

The ExchangeThe millennial generation, the oldest of whom are turning 35 this year, are inarguably the ministry leaders of the future. However, millennials also have the smallest percentage of church attendance of any generation, leaving many pastors looking for insight and advice on how to reach them. While there are many opinions regarding millennials and the future they may create, there is very little information regarding the perspectives of millennials serving in ministry positions.READ MORE

Managing Your ChurchVoice commands in cars aren't as safe as people may think. New research by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that "potentially unsafe mental distractions can persist for as long as 27 seconds after dialing, changing music, or sending a text using voice commands.” Whether or not your church owns a vehicle with voice recognition-technology, this news serves as a reminder that distractions exist for drivers, and it's a good time to evaluate your church's policy on if staff and volunteers may use cell phones while driving on church business or transporting people during church activities.READ MORE

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The Christian PostEvery seven seconds a baby boomer retires, about 10,000 a day. That is the pace of potential retirement taking place every day since Jan. 1, 2011. At the pace will continue until the end of 2029. A lot of baby boomer pastors are retiring. Concurrently we are seeing many of these pastors retire and stay in the church where they retired.READ MORE

Building God’s WayChurch buildings are not just for Sundays any more! Attend this free seminar and learn how to better leverage your facility 7 days a week to reach the community and have a REAL impact for the Kingdom. Hear innovative ideas for creating REAL church buildings that are Relevant, Economically sustainable, Adaptable and Linked to the community!READ MORE

The TelegraphWorship centers strive to help members strengthen their faith. But local church leaders say strengthening their bodies also is vital, so they can do God's will to the best of their ability. "We just see it from a heavenly perspective," said Kyle Sawyer, executive pastor of Real Life Church in Macon, Georgia. "Jesus lives on the inside of us. Because of that, we want to take care of our bodies. If God has a purpose for our lives, we want to be here as long as we can."READ MORE

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Outreach MagazineLifeWay Research and NewChurches.com have released The State of Church Planting in the U.S., the largest and most comprehensive report on American church plants since 2007. The study looks at several of the most crucial factors that contribute to the success and longevity of U.S. church plants, including public presence, outreach strategies, financial self-sufficiency and commitment to multiplication.READ MORE

Christian HeadlinesProfessors from Baylor University argued that religion is growing in America. The professors from Baylor’s Institute for Religion Studies in Waco, Texas, were part of a panel discussion at the National Press Club, according to The Christian Post. The men said that surveys released about religious participation have been wrongly skewed. For example, Byron Johnson, a social sciences professor and founder of the Institute for Religion Studies, said that a Pew Research study found that 44 percent of Americans left the faith affiliation in which they were raised. But Johnson argued that could mean that many Americans converted to denominations other than the denomination in which they were raised.READ MORE

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By Betty Boyd Collaboration and relationship building are critical elements in the leadership arena. So, why is it so hard to develop relationships within an organization? Since people are an organization's most important asset, it would make sense that people skills would be as well. However, some leaders shy away from becoming more proficient in their people skills. David J. Deming of Harvard indicates that people skills are becoming increasingly more important as you climb the career ladder.READ MORE

Leadership JournalThe price of growth often requires us to release some of our best leaders to the mission field. That's what pastors must face when we invest energy and emotion and literally feed our ministry leaders, only to realize it's time to send them off. A secular study claimed that a new employee's value equates to at least a two-year investment of training and wages. Keeping your talent is the most logical and effective way of building up the organization. However, Scripture tells us otherwise through the life of Jesus and Paul as seen in their experiences in kingdom growth and leadership development. Despite the growth pains, there are joys that come in reloading a ministry for another season so God can allow us to advance once more."READ MORE

Director of Finance & Administration
Orlando, Florida
EPC
This position is a key member of the global management group, responsible for the overall financial, human resource management, and office administrative activities of the internal team that supports the mission and vision of the EPC. To accomplish all these ends, the Director develops and maintains effective policies, processes, systems, and controls plus oversees a team as required to fulfill these responsibilities...